Automatic playing attachment for musical instruments.



Y P. WELIN. AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR MUSIC-AI. INSTRUMENTS.

- APPLICATION FILED DEO. 7, 1905. 928,295. Patented July 20, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l# if APPLICATION FILED 'DEC'. 7. 1905.

Patented July 2o, 1909. l

s'sHEBTs-SHBET 2.

P. WBLIN. AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 7, 1905.

wl 4 gy@ JM m IF/ A y MJ of 5. w 9 .mw SM. 2 eww 81 ./W 24 9 m P. WELIN. K AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

y l APPLICATION FILED DBC. 7, 1905.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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wld/ 146655 e s Patented July 20, 1909.

Patented July 20, 1909.

P. WELIN AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTAGHMENT FOR MUSICAL INST-RUMEN'IS.v

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APPLICATION FILED 1320.7, 1905.

P. WELIN.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

' APPLICATION FILED DEG. 7, 1905.

928,295. l Patented July 20,1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

l I i H A #wu/165565; y Q7 V. {la} gaga/9,5

d )n QAM 075x P. WELIN. 4 AUTOMATI()I PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED 1750.7, 1905.

928,295.. Patented July 2o, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

P. WELIN. v AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT TCR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DBG. 7, 1905.

928,295. Patented July 20,1909.

8 SHEETS- SHEET 8.

` d UiirrEn .STATES PATENTQOFICEJ N o. 928,295. I-

i ".Speeiloation of Letters .Patent .AUTOMATIC PLAYING 'a'rTAcr'nuE'NrFon MUSICAL INSTEUM'ENTS.

i* l l l y I l Patented July 20,1909- wing instrumentalities for pianos "or similar musical instruments which sound melody or solo notes more loudly lthan notes of the ac? '-slide. vFig. Q'is a detail View s liowing the.

arrangement of pockets containing cut -oit compani ment.

One object of the present 4invention-isv to provide a con'structionin which each oi -the' striliingpneuinatics .has a passage preferably two channels loading" thereto.A

comprising 'onepart or channel beingadjustabl'y re- 4stricted iorsecuring soft-playing effects, andv the other being largerfor soundingsthe notes more lo u dly. Oiie articular advantage in providing 'for the individual restriction of the i striking pneumatic-is due tothe fact tliatl am thus enabled to use restricting valves which can be adjusted into different desired extents ior diilerei'itp'arts 'of the same action, so that anyparticular action can be tempered or adjusteil to produce ditlferent' degreeslof restric-v tion f or various-p artso't' the same action. -This 'ployed.. or can be ings illustrate the ap -tioii to an interior p s is desirable ingpractice,A as it enables me tolsecure a` gradu al tempering downoi the heavier bass. notes, the'v striking mechanism weaker notes.

pla'yingattachmentsf according to this inven-.. tion can be manually controlled when music sheets loll'the'ordinary character arey emn direotly'l'itom'the inusic sheet itself when the th rottling peiiorations.-

The accompanyingv seven sheets oi drawplication ol' this invenpiano-in which botlr playing devices arehoused 1n a single casing.

lntheseV drawings, y partly broken away of sufficient parts of an .automatic piano to illustrate the applicationv Fig. -2 is a plan -V showing the con of the invention thereto. view' partly broken away nections for controlling the modulation olf' the instru-ment by manual connections. l Fig. 3

vvther'illustrating the arrangement lot chan- 'forfthe lower or more prominent notes being'm'ore'v -closely restricted than l'0r the higher and.

automatically controlled.

Lyer orv toan automaticthe pianoaotion and its* Figure 1 is a front view is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of part .ofthe devices shown Fig. 2.. Fig; Alisa 'front view ofparts shown in Fig.'3. Fig. V5 is a detail-*view showingthe'controlliiig slide in normal position.- Fig.` 6 `is .a similar view -showing the controlling slide swung'te oneV side. to produce a pianissimoeffect for all the striking devices.

r'ig. is .ai asini few.;-

v' showing the relation oft the' two sets of' holes controlled by the slide. -Fig. .8 is 'a detail view showing -the arrangement of channels leading `from the vopenings controlled bythe valves. Fig. '1 0 is vasectional'view=sliowing the relationof the cut-oil valveswhich are simultaneously operated to cloise tlie'modulating channels whenever itY is desired to sound afsingle isolated accented chord or playing et longerpianissimoV passages.

nels controlled fronf tliejvslid'e.. Fig. 12 isan vadditional detail view of the board shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 13 is a detail view of the suction chamber frame for the stop valves. Fig. E141 is a detail view of the 15 isa plan view of part of the .bottom wind- 'chest. l Fig. lfisan enlarged plan view' o t pa'rtof` what is shown in Fig. 15.` Fig. 17 isa detail view showing 'an arrangement oi primary controlled channels, Fig. 181s a sectional vi`e`w illustrating the'lead oi the primarykcontrolled channels l to groups of stv-- eral strik-ingpneumatics. Fig. 19 is asco tionall view of one :of the detachable units forming an element of a pneumatic yaction constructed- 1 according lto `this invention.

Fig. 20is a sectional View on the 'line'vO-20 .of Fig. 19. Fig.` 21 is a sectional view on the Fig. 22 is a sectional Fig. 23- is a detail viewshowing an arrangement ot pipes or passages line 2i- 2i of Fig. 19T.

when an instrument constructed according to this invention is to be directly controlled by special music-slieets- Fig. 24 is a fragmentary view of sutlicient parts of the tracker-board and winding-rolls toillustrate the arrangement of perforations in the music-s met and oi tracker board chanfnelsbpand Fig. 25 is a diagrammaticview showing theform of the device illustipated in the viii'st twenty-two figures.

In that class ol instrument to which this f stop valve' operating i pneumatics and bottom board therefor. Fig.

.Y to secure the accurate phrasir. oi the melon i,

Vby means ol these m'dinar-y lapsed with coinparatively invention relates in order to produce accented or solo elli-cts it is the prat-...se to divide the pneumatic acti-en usually i i'Jo'twi') sections, and to provide for aclzualaig the pmumatics of one part ot' the action under high tension 'and the remaining pneumatics under low tension. These so-called divided ractions are able to produce the correct accenting of a melody only in cases where the melody is connned toeither one division or the other ol.' the action. In musical compositions where 'the melody changes triapiently from the treble to the bass, it is not leasil'ilf` lirided actions.

ln an automatic music instrument cuillstru'cted according to this nwcn'ifion, l have increased the range of oll`ictrtlj1at c:

lNhen iff-e pneumatic is closed, the pncuuia will ce lii'hc finte, 'producing a soft-playing rilevi, but during the expansion or return el anj one strikingpneumatic to its Imrn'ial position, the return llow of air is not compelled to pass through the restricted vor throltled opening, the uurr` stricted return oi each striking pneuma permitting an instrument constriuztcd according to this invention to produce the in'ostrapid repetitions or trills even when the instrument is beingl played for pianissimo elects.4

l'n connection with thc following` description, reference should he had to Fig. 25 tor a general illustration ol the connection of the Various parts with each other.

In the 'first tive sheets of drawings, .l lieve illustrated coni'iections for manually controlling the throttling of the striking pneu- 'matics.

As shown'in Fig. 1,25 designates the ordinary tracker-hex; The front ,of the hoX is provided with the usual ways for l'iol-.ling a glass panel 26. lliounted .in the box 25 is the usual music-spool 27, and also .mounted in thc box is the usual winding roll 28 for winding the music-sheet over the trackerhoard 29. 'lhesc parts may he of the ordinary 0r approved construction. ln order that the eye may more readily follow the perforations of the music sheet, I ein'plo y a graduated scale or strip 30 in connection with the tracker-board. This strip 3),is usually ce- Incnted to the glass 26 so that it will appear i. directly below the 'line oi traclierhoard channels.. The particular graduated s calr which I vhave. herein illustrated 1s ihvided into divisions corresponding to the tracker-A boardchannels of each ectae, the drawings of the present application for patent having leen taken from a sii? octave instrument. Also located in the box 25 in position to he inspected througlrthe glass cover 26 is a matic.

. seance graduated scale 33 cooperating with which is a pointer 34. The pointer 34 is movable from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 by means of connections hereinafter described, in order to she-w what striking pneumatids of the action are throttlcd to produce pianissimo effects. For example, inthe particular construction illustrated in Fig. 1, the pointer 3 4 shows that the entire action is unrestricted, producing its loudest effects, but `when the pointer 34 is shifted to the left, it shows the successive octaves which are throttled in succession troni the bass upwardly.

Below the music-box 25 is a swinging or cover valve 3l which will he hereinafter described at length, and which is held down by a spring` 52. The cover valve 31 controls a .nunnier of channels ,which connect to pipes l. The arrangement of channels will lne hereinafter described.

ln the present construction, six pipes P are employed, one corresponding to Acach octave of the instrument, and the pipes are led down to the bottom wind-trunk of the action frame,

Dctachably secured to the action tra me or back-board are the individually removable v' ive-boxes and striking pneumaticav l. li hv ol' the elements I corresponds to a certain note to be sounded. Leading to each ol these individual elements .l are three channels, a main suction channel 36, a note channel 37, and a modulating' channel 3S for throttling the action ot' the 'striking pneu- The detailed construction ol cach of these individual elements or combined strik ing pneumatic and valve box is most clearly ilustrated in the sixth sheet of drawings. As shown in Fig. 15, each of these elements comprises a striking vpneumatic 39 which is connected to the piano action in the usual way, and to a suction chamber 14 which is connected to a corresponding suction channel on the wind trunk. l/Vhen the individual elements are secured in place on the back-board, each clement will be connected as follows: The chan'iber40 ol the element willbe connected with a suction channel 36. The modulating channel 38 will be connected to a channel 47 in the element, and the note channel 37 will be connected toa channel 37() in the element, small'pipcs 50 being inserted through the back-board to make this connection, and vthese pipes being connected by theusual 'small lead or rubber pipes to the holes in the tracker-board. Opening from the striking pneumatic 39 are two channels 41 and 42. The constantly open channel -'l-1 is the restricted channel, and threaded into position is an adjustable pointed restricting valve orserew 43, adapted to be Vadjusted manually 1n an obvious manner. By providing an adjustlng screw for Arestruzting the passage of cach strikingl pneumatic, l am enabled to secure a proper tempering or a-dgasses f justment of theentire action. T hatisto say, by the adjustment of the'several s. ews 43, I am enabled tomodulate or graduate the striking eilects of the several striking pneumatics when operated to. produce pianissimo cli'ects. l have found this lto be a feature ol- }`ractical importance, because when the hammers ol' a piano action are struck with unilorm force, the heavierl or-,bass strings will predominate, the result being that in the;

use of ncarlyall automatic piano playersthe. bass notes are disagreeably sounded whereas in an action equipped according' to this invention, by proper y tempering the striking effects oi' the pneumatics by means ofjan4 individual adjustment of therscrews 43, the bass notes need notbe sounded .anymore loudly than required to produce 'thefbest artistic eli'ects when softer passages are being played.I 'lhe' larger or more openpassage v42 ol' each element opening into the `striking pneumatic 39'is controlledby a throttling valve-1.4 which may be forced dow-ntorloscd position by means of a spring 45,o'r which may loe` raised to open position by means of an actuating pneumatic 46.` Y

lThe loud or soft striking of-' thepneuinaticv '39 depends Vupon whether thel valve '44 is opened or closed 'during the collapse ofthe pneumatic. Preferably, also, I provide for i :u itomatlcally vopening the valve 44 Whenover the pneumatic 1s expandmg or return-l ing to normal position in order to provide for quick responsive action. vThe shutting of the valve 44 to produce pianissimoeiiectsis'l controlled by the admission of atmospheric air to the vchannel 47 which will raise av pneumatic 47 0 and lift a Vswitch valve 48. VThe raising of the switch valve 48`will close theI connection between the pneumatic 146` andv suction chamlzer40, and will' o pen connection to a closed chamber 49.` The pneu` n1atic46, however, will not respond, to yproduce :a throttling action, when atmospheric air is admitted 'to channel 47, until an'air impulse corresponding to' a note.' to 'he sounded is admitted through'the pipe 50 lzy reason of the followingarrangenicntlvAs shown l thel position shown in l"ig .,19'` and when-,a

v65 note impulse comes in .tluough"pipe`=50 the most clearly in Fig. '22, .the pipe ileadsto a pneumatic 51.A As shown in Fig. 19, the' pneumatic 51 raises a primary v alve52 advmittmg atmospheric air intothe chamlzert) through passage 1 53 `to expand the pneumatic' 4(,l. and also 'adnntting atmospheric air through a channel 53 to' raise a pneumatic 5 4 and lift a secondary valve 55'. The lifting ofthe secondaryvalve connects the striking pneumatic 3) ,to the suction .chantier/40A either through thethrottled passage 4:1"alone or through the same passage and also through the'larger passage 4f2`according to whether the valve 44 is closed or opened. Thus 1f the passage 47 is closed, 'the valve 48 will lie- 1n -pneumatic -39 will hev modulated. vl/Vhenthe power, both 'setsv of channels 61 V dosed as illustrated in'l"ig. 5. When the vaife 31 -is .swung -to the lei'tirom the position shown in Fig. 5,' its secondary valve 55 -will hev lifted', and the pneumatic 39 will be collapsedfquickly 'oy Y reason of the free Viiow of the air through the unrestricted passage 42. V47 1s ebnne'cted to thelatmosphere, the valve When the passage 48 will move upward to its other position,

putting the pneumatic 46 in-communication with the chamber '49.5 This will not ai'lect the valve 44, but, just so soon vas' a notelmpulse' comes in through the pipe50. 'and the primary valve 52 rises, the chamber 49 will he' put into communication with the atmosphere, and the pneumatic 46 will fill'with air, whereby' the spring 45 Willimmediatelyclap the valve 44 on its seat, so that now as the -vsecondary lvalve 55 opens, the -ai'r can only the' drawn from the pneumatic 39. through the adjustable restricted passage 41,' whereby the hlow orJ motion imparted bythe striking parts are to lre returned to normal position, the primary valve 52 wlll drop, and tlns'will vent the. pneumatic46 as Well Aas lthe pncufanatic-54,.- so that whenever the striking pneumatic is tofhe supplied from theoutside air through the channel or passage X, thevalve 'i 44 will, vlie openedand a quick return of the i'no'vaigle` section vof the ,pneumatic 39 plipvided for. I- regard 'this' unrestricted return of the-movable part ofthe st'rikingpneumatic to normal position of importance, 'asthis `enarles meto providea pneumatic action 4caal: l of soundine eXtremel ra id lOO the rock-'shalt 58 is an arm'whieh is connected by 'a link 59 toturn the swingingvalve 31 l before referred to. Also extending 'rearllO4 wardly from the rock-'shalt 58 is an arm con- Vneet-ed byv a link to turnthe pointer 34'belore referred to, which shows what part ol',- theI action' 1s being softened. I

The rclation'ol' the valve 31 to its controlling channels ismost clearly illustratedin Figs. 5. to '7.

As ,shown in these figures, it will be seen. that the swinging coverfvalve consists essentially offa sector of a disk swing ing ontop' of aboard 64. Opening upv through the board 64 are two sets ol' channels Gland. 62. the periphcryol' the swinging valveS] isa notch or opening G3, .Vhcn the playing devicesare being sounded 'with l'ull and G2 are notch (33 will serve to 'successively uncover-'the channels (31h The valve 31 is in normal position, or when all thev simo eifect'when desired;

' channels 61 so that when the valve 31 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 6, all the channels corresponding to all the octaves will be thrown open, so that the entire action will be sounded with pianissiino effects. The channels 61 extend down through board 64 to channels cut in the underside of a board 65, which connect through holes to channels 66 in the upperisurface of the board 65. Each one of the channels 66 terminates adjacent to a channel 67, and in the ends of the respective channels 66 'and 67 are bored holes AeX- tending down to valve pockets 69 in a board i 68. The relations of the several channels 66 l and 67 are shown more clearly in Fior 11.

As shown, each of the valve'pocr'ets 69 contains a shut-off valve 70, and when the shut-ofi' valves 70 are simultaneously raised through connections hereinafter described, they will simultaneously cut off the respective channels 66 and 67, and will also vent the channels 67 to a suction chamber 71. rl"hese valves 7() and means for venting the channels 67 are provided for playing individually accented chords where the saine oecur in the middle of pianissiino passages, and are preferably controlled from the saine lever which serves as the tempo lever. To accomlish'this, each of the stop valves 70 is controlled by a pneumatic 72. Leading from the pneumaties 72 are passages 73 which con-4 nect to pipes 76. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the pipes 76 are connected at their other ends to a board 78.' The upper surface of the board'78 is covered with leather, and resting on the 'leather so as to cover the openings leading to the pipes 76 is a metal strip 79 held down by spring-arms S0 and 8l.

Below the strip '79 is a swinging lever 82, which is preferably connected by a link S3 to control the winding of the music sheet or vary the time of the music through ordinary connections which need not bc, herein .described. 'I 'preferably employ this tempo lever to produce the accenting of individual: chords when desired by giving the saine a slight upward lift as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, whereby the entire series of pipes 76 willhe simultaneously vented, and themonientary soundinir of a loud chord will beperniitted I consi( er this a feature of advantage, because in controlling a piano player the operator is required to keep the tempo lever in hand practically all the time, and by utilizing the lifting of the tempo lever for thus accenting individual chords, I am enabled. to secure such effects without the use of an` additional stop oriingerkey which could not well be taken care of.

Referring n owto Figs. 15 to 18 inclusive, in order to explain the passages lcontrolled from the pipes P it will be seen from Fig. 16 that each of the pipes l? is connected to operate a pneum atie 84. As shown in Fig. 18, each pneumatic 84 lifts a primary valve'85.

The lifting of a primary valve S5 vents a piassage 86 admitting .atmospheric air to said passage. The wind chest of the action, and

veach of the channels 86 is preferably connected to control or simultaneously modulate the notes of an entire octave. This is shown in Fig. 1, in which it will be seen that one of the six channels S6 is connected bymeans of branch channels 89 'to connect with twelve of the individual note elements which form the octave. Bymeans of this particular-division it is possible to modulate the striking devices of groupsof notes of twelve', andI have found this a convenient division where a manual control. is desired.

A pneumatic playing mechanism 1 constructed according tov this invention can be eontrollednot only manually, but is also adapted to be controlled automatically directly from the ,inusic'sheet itself. A construction for this purpose is .illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24. As s howii in Fig. 24, the tracker-board 300 in addition to its ordinary note-chainiels is provided with interspaced modulating channels 90. In practice I have used one modulating channel. to control the striking devices for `three successive notes of the musical scale. This I find to bea convenient division/for controlling the action as it is well known under the lawsof harmony that perfect musical chords do not usually contain two of any threesuecessive musical tones,'however I may use one modulating channel for each note or for any number of notes. f

In the music sheets which I have einployed, the sheet S is not only provided with the ordinary note perforations 92, but is also provided with supplemental controlling perfor-ations 91 which are slightly in advance of the corresponding note perforations 92. rlhe'channels 90 of the tracker? board controlled by the modulating perforations 6l are connected bypipes 766 to the bacleboard of the pneumatic action, and e eh of said'pipes 76() is connected byv means of-branch channelsQS to control three of the individual striking*pneinnatiesg It is obvious, ofcourse, that thenuinberof controlling channels in the tracker-board may be greater' or less if desired, although by the coiistructiou.illustrated, I have been enabled to secure the'individual accenting of any desired notes 'of entire musical compositions, and I regard this capacity of a pneumatic playing mechanism of my invention to be directly controlledironi the music sheet, as of particular importance, because it insures an absolutely correct accenting of an entire musical composition directly from the music sheet without any manual selection or control being required.,

Tir'here my invention is to be applied to cabinet piano-playersinstead ol' to a piano player inside` of a piano casing, it is to be understood that the striking pneuinatics may, it desired., strike upi'vardly instead of being pulled.downwardly as shown.

Thilo I have illustrated and described two forms in which the invention may be conveniently embodied, I am'aivare that. many other modifications m ay' be made by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed'in the" claims Therefore I do not Wish to be limited te the particular forms illustrated, but

Illia-t I do claim is vl. In an automatic music playing device, the combination of the' striking pneumatics, passages thereto, avalve in a passage to each striking pneumatic, a pneumatic for operating each ol' said valves to close the valve and reduce the passage of air from each pneumatic when the same is collapsing to produce asoft playing effect, and to open the valve positively-to permit an unrestricted return of the strikingl pneumatic to normal position.

2. In a piano player or automatic playing attachment for musical instruments, the

4combination ofa striking pneumatic, a suction chamber, a Wind-Way from'the pneumatic to lthe suction chamber comprising a constantly open channel and a second channel, and an individual means for reducing the passage' of airfrom each striking pneumatic when the sameis being collapsed to produce a soft playing efi'ect and for opening the .second channel from. said striking pneumatic to the suction chamber When the pneum atie is expanding or returning to normal position,

8. In a piano player or automatic playing Vattachment for musical instruments, the

combination of the striking pneiiin atics, pas- Y sages thereto, a valve for each ot saidstrik-l ing pneumatics, and means for closing the -V valve for reducing the passage of air vfrom each pneumatic when the same is collapsing' to produce a soft lplaying etiect, and for opening the valve for permitting an unrestricted return of the striking pneumatic to normal` position.

4i. In a piano player orfautoinatic playing vattachment for -i'nusical instruments, the, i combination of the striking pneumatics, two

passages of dillerent size leading to veach of the striking pn eumatics, means'for throttling or restricting the smaller of said passages, a valve for the larger passage, and means for closing tlievalve to throttlethe passage to the striking pneumatic When a soft playing ciiect isldesired, and for opening the valve for providing an unrestricted return of the striking pneumatic to normal position.

5. .In a piano player or automatic playing :attachment for musical instruments, the combinationoi' the striking pneumatics, two

lpassages leading to each'of vsaid striking pneumatics, an adjustable screw for restricting one oi the passages of each pneumatic, a

valve for the other; passage of each pneumatic, and means for closing said valve When a soft playing ei'iect is desired from any particular striking pneumatic, and for opening the valve for permitting an unrestricted return of the striking pneumatic to normal position.` i

6. I'n an automatic music playing device, having a tracker board and tracker-board connections, the combination oi" tlie striking pneumatics, an individual throttle for each striking pneumatic, a throttle pneumatic for each throttle, and means for letting iair into or out 'of any one or more of said'throttle pneumatics from connections independent of the tracker-board connections.,`

7. In yan automatic playing device for music, the combination of striking pneumatics, secondary valves therefor, an individual throttle foreach striking pneumatic, a pneumatic for controlling each throttle, and

primary valves, each controlling both a second ary valvel and a` throttle pneumatic.

8. In a music playing device, the combinavboth the-controlling valve` for the striking pneumatic and the throttle controlling 'pneumatic. i l

9. `In a piano player or automatic playingV attachmenty for musical instruments, the

combination ofthe striking pneuma'tics, a 4' valve forl controlling a passage to each of said -striking pneumatics, an individual throttle g for each of said striking pneumatics, an operating `pneumatic for controlling the individual tlirottling action,"a switch valve for normally preventing t'lirott'ling'except when a soft playing eilect is'desired, anda single means ,for controlling said controlling valve for the striking pneumatic and the means for throttlingtlie same when the switch-valve is opened.` i' i y10. lIn -apiano player or automatic playing attachment,v for 'musical instruments, 'the combination of the striking pneumatics, a .throttle and a throttle operating pneumatic inclosed in each of said pneumatics, a' seci y 1o pneumatic isreturning to normal position.

'-15 .consisting of a striking pneumatic, a. throttle l 'f the secondary valve and also the throttling .pneumatic-'serving to flush the throttling 1 4pneunrratic when a soft plii'yi .'25 sired Aand to vent the throttling 'neumatic 3 0 containin a throttle and an operating pneuvl0 matic when the striking pneumatic is return- 45 ving passage .to each-pneumaticfor reducing ondary valve for the striking pneumatic, a `secondary pneumatic, a switch valve-for' preventing the operation Vof the throttle pne'uf matic except when a'soft playing effect isde- 5 sired, and. a single primary valve for controlling the secondary pneumatic' and the means for throttling the striking pneumatic whenA the'switch valve is opened, and for flushing the throttling pneumatic when'the striking 1 1.( In a piano player or automatic playing. attachment for musical instruments, theA combination of a pneumatic action comprising vindependently removable elements, each and a throttling pneumatic inclosed therein,

a suction chamber, a switch valve -or pre-r [venting'the throttling pneumatic from actingexcept When-a soft'playing efiect is desired, a secondary valve, `and a primary. valve and connections. for `controlling the operation of 'for permitting a quick return oft Ie striking '...pneumatic. j z

412'; In a music playing'device, the combi- .'nation .with the strlking-p'neumatics each l matic inc osed therein, 'of a-secondary valve for the striking'pneumatic, a switch-valve for preventing the operation-of the throttle l operatingpneumatlc except when a soft V'playing effect is desired, and primary valves, each for controlling a secondary valve and a throttle operating pneumatic when the switch valv'isopen, said .primary valve also constituting means for venting the throttlepneuing to normal position.

1-3. In an automatic playing attachment for musical-instruments, the combination of striking pneumatics, a' throttle in the operat- `..t he passage of air when a' soft playing effect is desired, andy hand-controlled means for se- 'lecting which octaves of 'thestriking pneumatic shall hev played with-soft effect. j 14.. In a p iano player or automatic playing Y attachment for musicallinstruments, the co1nbinati m` of a trackerboard provided with channels, striking pneumatics controlled from the tracker board channels, means for 5e individuallyqthrottling the passage to each striking pneumatici-rom which a soft laying effect is desired, und means for manua ly controllino the throttling action.

15. n a piano player or automatic playing attachment for musical instruments, the.

combination of the striking neumatics, an individual throttling means or each of the st rikin pneumatics for reducing the passage .of air t erefrom when a soft laying effect is desired, and hand-controlled) means for semeans normally closing erated to produce softplayin, effects.

16. Ina piano player oiijautomaticp'laying attachment for musical instrumentsthe I' lecting which .striking pneumatics be opg pneumatics which are tobe operated'with soitplaying effects, and hand-controlled means tor selectv ing striking pneum-atics controlli g thenotes 75 'of different o ctavesiso hat the same may played with a soft playing effect.

17. In a piano player or automatic playing attachment for musical `\i istruments, the combination. of pneumatic flactionshaving plurality of ch annels, means for softfenirrgthe playing effects lofthe strikin pneumatic. of

each action, land a'hand-'con rolled-slide or ,valve for uncovering successive Achannels whereby the striking pneumatms to br operated to produce soft playing effects may be selected. l

18. In a piano player or automatic playing 'attachment'. fm musical instruments, the

combinationof a pneumatic action, means forl controlling the striking neumatics to produce planissimo .effects -1nc udmg Ya serres'` of channels; a swinging valve capable of cov-` ering all'of said channels, and of' uncovering a plurality of anyfdesired contiguous ones, -and means i` or operatin said swinging valve to uncover successive c annels to soften the striking effects of different striking lpneu- =matics', or to uncover the entire series of channels when a pianissimo effect 1s desired 'for the entire action.

19. In a piano player or automaticplaying attachment for musical instruments,` 'the combination of a pneumatic action, a number of channels, means controlled by said' channels for o erating the pneumatic action with full striking effect for the playing of ac- 1 "cented'chords or phrases, a pivotedh'and lever `having .connections vfor regulating the tempo when swungA 4to different positions about its pivot, and means controlled'by said lever for'normally .closing 'said 'channels and moved in a direction parallel to its pivot.

'20. A music'playingdevice having a pneumaticl action, channels, means connected with and controlled by said channels for modifying the striking eect of the pneumatic action, meansv for regulating the tempo, a pivoted lever for operating the regu-` lating means when swung on its pivot, and

-matics, a throttle valve'for regulating the adapted to expose them when theleveris l :said channels in all'.

.action of each pneumatic, pneumatics controlling said throttle valves, a hand operated valve, successive channels `Which the same controls, a primary valve controlled from each of said channels, and connections and passafres therefrom controlling a number of throttle pneumatics and thereby controlling J sive channe s, a switch valve operated from each of said channels to effect the operation of the individual throttling devices, astop valve for each of said channels, a tempo lever and means controlled from the tempo lever for closin the stop valves to permit full striking e ect from the pneumatics for the playing of accented Lchords or phrases in pianissimo passages.

23. In a music playing device, the ,combi-p nation of a series of pneumatics, a passage communicating with each, a plate having a series of erforations, one connected with each of said passages, and a' valve having a notch foruncovering' certain of said perforations when the valve is moved.

24. In a music playing device, the combi-- nation of a series of pneumaties having assages connected therewith, a cover p atehaving two series of perforations, one perforation ofeaeh series being connected with one passage of each series, and a valve hav- .ing a notch for uncovering the passages of one series, said valve being adapted to uncover those of the other when its. end is moved beyond a .certain point.

' 25. In a music playing device, the combination of pneumatics, a plate having-two Series of passages, one passage '0f each serle! being provided .with connections to apneumatic, the passages' of one series being lo= cated substantialIy in a line,

the other series being located in a nement at an angle to the first mentioned line, and a valve having a notch adapted to successively uncover `the passages 'of the 'second series as the valve moves.

26. 'In a music laying device, the combination with a stri ing pneumatic, of a suction chamber, a connection from the pneumatic to the suction chamber, a valvey for the'passages of 1 controlling said connection, a valve for materially regulating the size of said connection, said regulating valve being capable of operation independently of the irst named valve, a pneumatic located Within the striking pneumatic and constituting means for operating-the first named valve and a valve for controlling the connection of the striking pneumatic with the suction chamber and also with the open air through said connection."

27. In a music playing device, the combination With a striking pneumatic, ofa suction chamber, a passage for connecting the.

striking pneumatic With the suction chamber, a valve for closing the principal part of said passage, a valve for materially restricting said passage having manually controlled means Jfor operating it, a pneumatic having a movable' leaf under the lniiuence of the air in the-striking pneumatic connected With' the `combination of striking pneumatics, a suction chamber, assages connecting each striking -pneumatic with the suction chamber and each constituting the inlet and outlet of its striking neumatic, and a throttling means for re ucing the passage of air from each striking neumatic when the same is being collapse to produce a soft playing ef feet and forv leaving the passage free when the pneumatic is expanding or returning to normal position. l I 29'. In a piano player or automatic playing attachment for musical instruments, the vcombinationl of a pneumatic action', and means for controllingthe striking neumatics to produce pianissiinoeflects, inc uding va series of channels and aswinging valve capable of covering all ofy said channels and of unl' witnesses.

vvhereofzIhave hereunto .set t e presence of two subscribing i "PETER WE'LIN.

Witnesses:l f

EDWIN B. PFAU,

CHARLEs L. DENGLER.

, l 'y l 

